Imaging device camera system and driving method of the same

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/688,564, filed Mar. 20, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. The present invention claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-100931 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Mar. 31, 2006, the entirety of which also is incorporated by reference herein to the extent permitted by law.

The present invention relates to an imaging device, a camera system and a driving method of the same, provided with a solid state imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, particularly to an imaging device and a camera system in which in a two dimensional pixel array using a plurality of color filters, the pixel arrangement and the pixel array are sequentially scanned for exposure and read operation.

For a color filter arrangement of an imaging device, the Bayer array is known which uses two green (G) filters, a single red (R) filter, and a single blue (B) filter of three primary colors with excellent color reproducibility. The Bayer array is an arrangement that places more importance on the resolution of brightness than color.

An imaging device is proposed in which a pixel arrangement is provided with transparent filters arranged in order to increase sensitivity while excellent color reproducibility is retained in the color filter arrangement (for example, see JP-A-8-23542 (Patent Reference 1)).

In addition, an imaging device is proposed in which the transparent filter arrangement is improved to secure the signal charge amount and the color resolution even though pixels are miniaturized (for example, see JP-A-2004-304706 (Patent Reference 2)).

However, in the imaging device described above, the apparatus has limitations on the improvement of resolution and color reproducibility.

In addition, it is difficult to control color information at dark places and bright places using color filter pixels and transparent filter pixels freely, and it is difficult to create almost natural color depending on luminosity.

Thus, it is desirable to provide an imaging device and a camera system with excellent color reproducibility which can improve resolution.

It is also desirable to provide an imaging device and a camera system which can create almost natural color depending on luminosity.

An imaging device according to an embodiment of the invention is an imaging device including: a pixel array part in which a plurality of pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity are arranged in an array and which converts light transmitted through the pixel is converted into an electric signal, wherein in the pixel array part, among a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics in red, a second color filter pixel having a peak in blue, and a third color filter pixel having a peak in green, each including a color filter, at least a plurality of the first color filter pixels and the second color filter pixels is arranged in an oblique pixel array system, and a clear pixel having a high transmittance is arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column in the oblique pixel array with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel.

The oblique pixel array means that the pixels of the columns of each series are offset by a predetermined amount from the pixels of the columns of the other series.

Preferably, in the pixel array part, a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics in red, a second color filter pixel having a peak in blue, and a third color filter pixel having a peak in green, each including a color filter are arranged in an array, and the clear pixel is uniformly arranged between the color filter pixels.

Preferably, the pixel array part includes a pixel row and a pixel column formed only of the clear pixel.

In addition, another pixel array part includes a pixel row and a pixel column formed only of the clear pixel.

Preferably, the pixel array part includes a pixel row and/or a pixel column having the clear pixel and at least one color filter pixel mixed.

Preferably, a read channel exclusive for the clear pixel and a read channel exclusive for the color filter pixel are provided separately.

Preferably, a function is provided that separately performs electronic shutter drive for the clear pixel and for the color filter pixel.

An imaging device according to an embodiment of the invention is an imaging device including: a pixel array part in which a plurality of pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity are arranged in an array and which converts light transmitted through the pixel into an electric signal, wherein in the pixel array part, among a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics in red, a second color filter pixel having a peak in blue, and a third color filter pixel having a peak in green, each including a color filter, at least a plurality of the first color filter pixels and the second color filter pixels is arranged in an array, a clear pixel having a high transmittance is arranged at a given position of a given row and a given column in the array pixel arrangement with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel, and a read channel exclusive for the clear pixel and a read channel exclusive for the color filter pixel are separately provided.